Why President Obama went all-in on Chuck Hagel — President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have fiercely defended the nomination of Chuck Hagel, despite advisers and Hill Democrats who questioned the move and predicted a firestorm, according to Democratic sources.

Separate Vacations for Barack and Michelle Obama — The White House confirms today that President Barack Obama will be vacationing in Florida this weekend. His wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, will be in Colorado. The two daughters will be with Michelle. — From the White House press gaggle aboard Air Force One:

BREAKING: Vilsack will not seek U.S. Senate seat in 2014 — Tom Vilsack has ruled out running U.S. Senate in 2014, clearing the way for the early Democratic frontrunner, U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, to press forward and raise money for what's expected to be one of the most fiercely competitive races in the country.

Fox News signs Herman Cain — Fox News has signed Herman Cain, the former Republican presidential candidate, as a contributor. — “Cain's impressive résumé makes him a valuable addition to the Fox News and Fox Business lineup. As a political expert with business savvy …

Russian meteor largest in a century — Explosion rivalled nuclear blast, but rock was still too small for advance-warning networks to spot. — A meteor that exploded over Russia this morning was the largest recorded object to strike the Earth in more than a century, scientists say.

When Families Fail — Today millions of American children grow up in homes where they don't learn the skills they need to succeed in life. Their vocabularies are tiny. They can't regulate their emotions. When they get to kindergarten they've never been read a book …

Behind closed doors, House GOP tries to find its way — It's simple: House Republicans say that if they spend the next two years like they spent the last two, they'll become irrelevant. — So for the last few days, GOP leaders have met behind closed doors to both craft an agenda that confronts …

Cuomo Spokeswoman Quits After Four Months — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's new communications director is leaving her post after just four months to reunite with her former boss, Jeffrey Zucker, the new president of CNN Worldwide. — The aide, Allison Gollust, informed Mr. Cuomo of her resignation on Friday …

LGBT Percentage Highest in D.C., Lowest in North Dakota — All states are within two percentage points of the overall national average of 3.5% — PRINCETON, NJ — The percentage of U.S. adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) ranges from 1.7% in North Dakota …

The Cuccinelli Manifesto — Virginia's attorney general doesn't fit the Republican rebranding. He is ultraconservative and undaunted. — Serious question: When was the last time a politician wrote a policy manifesto right before a campaign, and it didn't do irreparable damage to his internal organs?

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